Thoracoplasty and tuberculosis

Abstract

CaseThis patient presented to the emergency center with two days of fever, dyspnea, and productive cough. His chest radiographs and computed tomography scans showed significant abnormalities in the right thorax (Figures 1 and 2). He recalled having some type of surgery in Mexico as a child for tuberculosis. Since this surgery, he has lived a productive life and denied chronic respiratory limitations. He denied recurrent tuberculosis. The patient was admitted to the hospital; he decompensated and required intubation with mechanical ventilation. Bronchoscopy was performed to evaluate his right lung. The RUL orifice was noted, but the bronchoscope was unable to be passed into it. The RML bronchus was open but severely constricted. The bronchoscope was unable to be passed into this bronchus as well. The RLL